阿彌陀經要解 1.7

1.7

Fourth, clarifying the dynamic function: Rebirth and avivartika are the dynamic function. There are four lands of rebirth, each having nine grades; now I shall briefly clarify the marks of attaining rebirth in the four lands. If one holds firmly to the name without having severed view and thought [afflictions], according to whether one is scattered or focused, one naturally falls into the three tiers and nine grades within the Land of Common Residence. If one holds firmly to the name to the point of phenomenal one mind undisturbed, so that view and thought [afflictions] naturally fall away first, one is reborn in the Pure Land of Expediency with Remainder. If one holds firmly to the name to the point of noumenal one mind undisturbed, suddenly breaking through one grade up to forty-one grades of fundamental ignorance, one is reborn in the Pure Land of True Retribution and Adornment, also called partially realizing the land of eternally quiescent light. If fundamental ignorance is severed completely, that is the supreme-upper True Retribution, and also the ultimate Quiescent Light. Avivartika has four meanings: first, non-retrogression of thought; second, non-retrogression of practice; third, non-retrogression of position; fourth, ultimate non-retrogression. First, non-retrogression of thought means breaking through fundamental ignorance and revealing the Buddha-nature, directly being reborn in True Retribution and partially realizing Quiescent Light. Second, non-retrogression of practice means that since view and thought [afflictions] have fallen away, dust-and-sand [afflictions] are also broken, and one is reborn in the Land of Expediency to advance toward the ultimate fruit. Third, non-retrogression of position means rebirth carrying one's karma in the Land of Common Residence, relying on a lotus flower for physical birth, forever parted from conditions of retrogression. Fourth, ultimate non-retrogression means that regardless of utmost sincerity or a scattered mind, mindful or unmindful, understanding or not understanding, if the name of Amitābha once passes through the ear-root, or the names of the Buddhas of the six directions, or the name of this sūtra once passes through the ear, even after thousands of myriads of kalpas, one will ultimately attain deliverance due to this—just as hearing the poison-smeared drum kills both near and far, and just as consuming a tiny diamond will definitely not be digested.